A Lanier College and Career Academy (LCCA) student has been arrested after a firearm was reportedly found in his book bag.
The school was also placed on an interior lockdown until roughly 2 p.m.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reports that at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, the LCCA school resource officer (SRO) was doing a routine safety sweep with his K-9 Zena when the dog alerted on a bag in a classroom.
“The canine is trained to alert on illegal narcotics,” B.J. Williams with the sheriff’s office said. “The THC vaping devices are what caught her nose.”
After a search, the SRO discovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun and THC vaping devices inside the book bag of 18-year-old Joshua Brant Edwards of Gainesville.
“He didn’t threaten anybody with the weapon,” Williams said.
The Hall County School District also issued a statement and said there is no evidence Edwards intended to use the firearm on campus.
Edwards was taken to administration and questioned before authorities were called, ultimately taking him into custody and transported to the Hall County Jail on three charges.
Those charges were possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, and possession of THC vape cartridges on school property.
Edwards is undergoing the booking process at this time.
